Ex-UFC Champ Jan Blachowicz to Require Two Separate Shoulder Surgeries

The road to recovery is just beginning for Jan Blachowicz.

The former light heavyweight champion was forced to withdraw from a rematch against Aleksandar Rakic at UFC 297 due to a shoulder injury that required surgery. As it turns out, the Polish star will need to undergo two separate procedures.

“First shoulder operated on,” Blachowicz wrote Saturday on social media. “Unfortunately, there was too much work to do with one, so they couldn’t fix both at once. Another surgery soon. I’ll have to wait a little bit longer to come back.”

First shoulder operated on. Unfortunately, there was too much work to do with one, so they couldn't fix both at once. Another surgery soon. I'll have to wait a little longer to come back.

I wish you all Merry Christmas! pic.twitter.com/RDIIxDSBgm

— Jan Blachowicz (@JanBlachowicz) December 23, 2023

A timeline for Blachowicz’s return is unknown, and he did not give a date for his second surgery. Blachowicz, who will turn 41 in February, is 1-2-1 in his last four promotional outings. Most recently, the KSW veteran dropped a split verdict to Alex Pereira at UFC 291 this past July.

Rakic, meanwhile, has been moved to UFC 300, where he will face former 205-pound champion Jiri Prochazka on April 13.